Opuntia tomentosa (Cactus)

Magnificent exemplar of cactaceae that can reach even 6 m high! It has an opaque green stem, velvety to the touch thanks to the down that covers it, which tends to lignify with the passage of time and expands creating new branches with an oval shape. The areoles are spread on the surface of the plant , very spaced from each other. Usually thin white thorns come out from them. Its name "tomentosa" comes from the fact that the plant does not have many spines but some "tomento", very thin short hairs. Its beautiful flowers have colors ranging from yellow, orange to red; at the tips the petals have a lighter shade and the center of the flower has yellow-orange pistils. The flowering period is spring and summer.